The ‘90s Hippie Movement

You scrunch them down, you roll them into a little nylon doughnut, you tug and poke them into place. Trying to get regular pantyhose to conform to hip-hugger pants and skirts is a challenge--but not one most women look forward to.

Those scrunching days are now over, thanks to Hippies, a new low-rise line of hosiery made of microfiber and Lycra that is designed to sit lower on the hip. A V-shaped panel in front allows the rise to be adjusted, from the hip bone to higher, and holds the hose in place.

They’re the brainchild of 26-year-old Aussie fashion designer Vanessa Palmer. “All the time my pantyhose were coming up really high,” she said from her Queensland office. She originally designed them for juniors, but realized the market goes far beyond that. “Women tell me they can’t stand that constricting feeling around their stomach[s].”

The patent-pending design has attracted professional cheerleaders, belly dancers--even pregnant women. Additional Hippies will debut later this year, including underwear, camisoles, knee-highs and body hosiery.

Palmer obviously knows the L.A. market: “The pantyhose are also good for women who have had their navels pierced,” she said. “These girls go in and spend hundreds of dollars on the piercing and jewelry, and then they go back to their corporate environment[s] and roll their hosiery down.”

Hippies retail for approximately $13 to $14 and are available at Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Fred Segal Los Angeles. For information: https://www.hippies.com.